Education crisis in Telangana: TSEC flags policy confusion, fee burden
HYDERABAD:Â Telangana Save Education Committee (TSEC) delegation met K. Keshava Rao, Chairperson of the Telangana High-Level Education Committee, on Thursday to present demands addressing urgent issues in the state’s education sector.
During the meeting, TSEC leaders expressed strong concern over the state government’s failure to articulate a clear education policy. According to a press release from the organization, the government is creating widespread confusion. It does so by unilaterally introducing topics such as the NEP 2020 ‘Young India Integrated Schools’ and ‘Telangana Public Schools,’ and by allocating a very low budget to education.
The committee warned that this ambiguity is allowing the private education sector to strengthen its hold, placing a heavy financial burden on common people through exorbitant fees.
The delegation urged Keshava Rao to press the government for immediate clarity on its education policy and to make decisions that serve the public interest. They submitted a detailed list of ten key demands for consideration. These demands include introduction of pre-primary classes in all primary schools, allocation of at least 20 percent of the state budget to the education sector, filling of vacant monitoring posts in schools, exemption of teachers from non-academic duties, regulation and strict supervision of private and corporate schools, and opposition to the implementation of a contract system for employment in the education sector.
In addition, they requested a ban on allowing ‘U.K. Private Schools’ (schools based on the U.K. system) in Telangana. They also seek rejection of the NEP 2020’s proposed four-year degree, arguing the ‘free entry and free exit’ model is not beneficial for students. They demand at least Rs 100 crore for each university in Telangana. They further request Assistant Professor pay scales for contract lecturers and the filling of all vacant teaching and non-teaching university posts.
The TSEC delegation included several prominent education leaders. These were K. Chakradhara Rao (President, TSEC), G. Hara Gopal (General Secretary), K. Lakshminarayana (Organising Secretary), Ashok Kumar (Associate President), K. Venugopal (Vice-President), Ravichandra (Secretary), Anil Kumar (President, TPTF), Nanneboyina Tirupati (General Secretary, TPTF), M. Somayya (President, DTF), T. Linga Reddy (General Secretary, DTF), Ramakrishna (DTF), M. Ravinder (TPTF Adl. Gen. Sec), Subbarao (TREITA), and Prakash (TPTF), among others.
After discussion, K. Keshava Rao reportedly responded positively to the delegation’s concerns.
